Following a 33-14 loss on the road in Seneca Friday, the Cassville football team is keyed in on an important buzzword this week — consistency.

Coach Lance Parnell said he was disappointed in Friday’s loss, especially in the slow start and rough finish.

A host of Wildcats, including Logan Carlin (No. 4) make a tackle in Friday’s game against Seneca. Shannon Haney/Special to the Cassville Democrat

“We played well at times, but we didn’t finish well and had turnovers at key times,” he said. “’Frustrated’ is the best word to sum it up.”

Hunter Bailey, senior lineman, said the end of Friday’s game left him upset and frustrated.

“We didn’t play as good as we could have in the first half,” he said. “We scored on them quick in the second quarter and played good defense, but then we lost it like we did in the first quarter.”

Parnell said that bad-to-good-to-bad-to-good play has led to speeches on consistency this week.

“We spent a lot of time watching film, going play to play where we had done well one play, then did something silly on the next play,” he said. “We have to work to be a more consistent football team.”

Bailey said they cog in the wheel of the message is to not take a single play off for 48 minutes.

“We have to make sure we do the same things on every play for the whole game,” he said. “We have some good plays, but then a few plays down the line, we have a colossal breakdown. We have to be consistent or we won’t be successful.”

Friday’s game also led to another discussion this week on a common topic — ball security. Two interceptions and two lost fumbles handicapped the Wildcats’ comeback rallies.

“Turnovers are something we focus on a lot,” Parnell said. “There’s not a lot to talk about there. They know, and now they have to do.”

Bailey said many things can contribute to turnovers, but the bottom line is the Wildcats have to protect the ball better.

“That is something we can work on and get better at,” he said.

Cassville finished the game with 162 yards in 37 attempts on the ground and 104 yards in 16 attempts through the air. Quarterback Shannon Haney completed five passes for 52 yards, and Ethan Hoppes netted 52 yards on a halfback pass to DJ White resulting in a touchdown. White led receivers with 96 yards on 4 catches. Haney led on the turf with 124 rushing yards on 19 attempts.

Defensively, Braden Strahan recorded 6 unassisted tackles, and Garret Knight and Evan Kessinger each had 5.

Cassville returns home for the final regular season home contest of the season Friday, hosting Aurora on senior night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.